Montes Displays Eagle-Eye, Leads City Golf by Five

Jay Montes was relatively unknown to everyone but his teammates before the City Section golf championships Tuesday at Griffith Park.

Four hours later, everybody in and around the clubhouse was talking about him after the senior from Sylmar High shot five-under-par 67 that included two eagles on the front nine of the Harding Course to take a five-stroke lead.

The final round will be played today on the Wilson Course.

“I’ve played this course a few times and it’s definitely the best round I’ve had here,” said Montes, who played his freshman and sophomore seasons but missed his junior year because of academic ineligibility.

“This is my last year and my last chance to do something significant, so I want to make the most of it.”

Montes made consecutive eagles on the fifth and sixth holes, both par fives, and followed with birdies on the seventh and eighth. He finished the front nine at six-under 31.

“I’ve played a little more conservatively on the back-nine because I wanted to give myself a chance to two-putt,” Montes said.

Doo Kang of San Pedro shot a 72, Leif Hansen of Eagle Rock finished at 73, and three players are tied for fourth at 74, including Ed Turner of Palisades.

Turner entered the tournament as the heavy favorite, having shot a tournament record-tying 65 on the second day to capture the title by one stroke as a freshman last year.

“I was hoping to shoot a 68,” Turner said. “I’ll have to play better [today] to win.”

Despite being seven strokes ahead of the favorite, Montes still considers Turner the man to beat on the longer and more-difficult Wilson Course.

“I average about three-over and the best I’ve ever shot is a 66,” Montes said. “[Turner] shoots in the low 70s regularly.”

Largely because of a 75 by Josh McIntire and a 76 by Adam Petrocelli, Chatsworth held a one-stroke lead over defending champion Palisades in the team standings with a score of 396.

Palisades is second at 397, followed by Granada Hills at 403, San Pedro at 406 and Grant at 411.

Birmingham is seventh with 417, followed by El Camino Real at 423 and North Hollywood in ninth at 427.

Each team consists of six golfers, with the five lowest rounds counted toward the school’s overall score.

Sylmar did not qualify for the team competition.

“I’m guessing I’ll have to shoot even par tomorrow to win,” Montes said.

“At least that’s my goal.”